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U.N. warns Gaza hostilities are 'devastating' as UNRWA schools in East Jerusalem receive 30-day closure orders
Summary
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says hostilities across the Gaza Strip continue to cause large-scale civilian harm, displacement and constrained humanitarian access; UNRWA schools in East Jerusalem were ordered closed for 30 days, affecting about 800 children, the agency's head said.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that ongoing hostilities across the Gaza Strip are exacting a “devastating toll” on civilians, causing further deaths, repeated displacement and destruction of critical infrastructure.
OCHA said thousands of families were on the move, fleeing bombardment, shelling and repeated displacement orders, and warned that “there is no safe place in Gaza.” The office reported that humanitarian operations remain severely constrained by expanding military operations and a blockade of humanitarian and commercial goods that had lasted five weeks at the time of the briefing.
OCHA recorded repeated denials by Israeli authorities of coordinated aid access. Since the intensification of hostilities on March 18, authorities denied 68% of 170 attempts to coordinate access, and in the 24 hours before the briefing, Israeli authorities denied eight of 14 coordination attempts, the U.N. spokesperson said. The denials also included refusals to allow pickup of supplies that had already been brought to Gaza and left at crossings prior to their closure on March 2.
Despite these constraints, partners reported resumed services in northern Gaza focused on urgent case management, psychological first aid and psychosocial support. U.N. protection monitoring teams identified severe protection risks in shelters hosting displaced people in northern Gaza, with physical hazards such as rubble, debris and broken glass observed in 75% of surveyed shelters.
Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), told the U.N. that Israeli officials accompanied by security forces forcibly entered six UNRWA schools in East Jerusalem and issued closure orders effective for 30 days. "Some 800 boys and girls are directly impacted by these closure orders and are likely to miss finishing their school year," Lazzarini said. He noted that UNRWA schools are protected by the privileges and immunities of the United Nations and that UNRWA is “committed to stay and deliver in education and other basic services for Palestine refugees in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,” citing the General Assembly resolution that founded UNRWA.
The U.N. spokesperson said such denials of access and attacks on humanitarian facilities and staff prevent the U.N. and partners from carrying out life-saving missions. The briefing repeated calls for the protection of civilians, for safe and voluntary movement of those fleeing, and for unhindered humanitarian access across Gaza.
The U.N. did not provide additional detail on whether children were in the specific schools at the time of the security forces’ entry or on any further administrative steps Israeli authorities might take after the 30-day closure orders.
